United Way: Day of Caring showcases community strength
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- Volunteers join for a kick-off breakfast as part of United Way’s 2024 Day of Caring.
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- A volunteer paints playground games at a school as part of a United Way 2024 Day of Caring project.
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- A volunteer plays with a child as part of a United Way 2024 Day of Caring project.
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- Volunteers help at a local nonprofit organization as part of United Way’s 2024 Day of Caring.
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- Bill Hulterstrom, president and CEO of United Way of Utah County.
Have you ever experienced the excitement and enthusiasm of walking into an event with thousands of other people there beside you? Most of us have had this experience in one way or another, whether it’s through attending a concert, participating in a conference or maybe even visiting a famous location. But my favorite place to experience unity of purpose with others is through United Way’s Day of Caring.
Each September, United Way of Utah County organizes scores of volunteer projects in partnership with many incredible nonprofit agencies across Utah County for Day of Caring. There are a wide variety of projects that get completed each Day of Caring, from playground painting and reading activities at local schools to renovating much-loved service agency buildings.
From its humble beginnings a few decades ago, Day of Caring has expanded to include thousands of volunteers each year, and it is wonderful to see how much good can be done in one short day.
Day of Caring has long been one of my favorite events of the year. It is always amazing to see how many people come together to make a difference in our community. From the kick-off breakfast early in the morning to the last supply drop off at the end of the day, volunteers from all corners of the county dedicate their time and effort to helping others.
It is so inspiring to meet these volunteers and learn more about why they choose to volunteer.
This year, more than 1,500 volunteers from 42 companies completed projects at more than 70 locations. Projects were held all across Utah County, from Santaquin to American Fork to Eagle Mountain. These project sites included 30 schools in Provo, Nebo and Alpine school districts. It’s hard to fathom the impact that each of these volunteers and projects will have on our community.
Recently, I’ve been thinking about these volunteers and the impact they have. The good they do isn’t limited to whichever project they help complete on Day of Caring. Their willingness to come together, to meet others who are different from them and to give of their own time and talents in partnership with other volunteers has ripple effects that will last far beyond the time when all Day of Caring paintbrushes are washed and tools are put away.
This unity that comes from getting to know each other is so crucial to our lives, our neighborhoods and our community. At a time when it seems like divisions are becoming deeper, taking a conscious effort to learn more about each other is the only way to heal divides and strengthen communities. We all have differences of opinion, of situation and of experience. But those differences don’t mean we cannot come together to make our communities better places for our kids.
It is only when we each bring our differences together and work toward a common goal that we will see healing and progress.
I’ve seen this kind of cooperation happen every year. Day of Caring projects are an amazing venue for bringing together volunteers from a wide variety of backgrounds and skills. As they work together to repaint a room for children’s therapy appointments or sort donations at the food bank, they find common ground in putting the needs of others above their own. They take time out of their busy schedules, their work commitments and even their personal time to make sure that all our community members — including the most vulnerable — can feel valued and safe as they access important resources.
As we head into a new season, with a new school year just starting, I invite all of us to find a new commitment to getting to know others. Let’s be brave this fall. Let’s take time to chat with a new neighbor or make a new friend. Let’s look for ways we can utilize our different strengths to make a difference. Let’s recommit to making our homes and community stronger — together.
To learn more about Day of Caring and other ways you can use your strengths to support our community, visit unitedwayuc.org.
